Automatic block system



Feb. 16', 1932. A. F. DALMAU AUTOMATIC BLOCK s smx 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1929 IN] I fol Feb. 16, 1932. A. F. DALMAU 1,345,132

AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM Filed Nov. 19, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 19.32. A. F. DALMAU 1,345,132

AUTOMATIC BLOCK'SYSTEM Filed Nov. 19, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 16, 1932. A. F. DALMAU AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM Filed Nov. 19. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 unwe l) ANTONIO-TERRIER DAIMAU; BARCELONA," SPAIN u AUTOMATIC? BHOCK SYSTEM npplicationvfiled' November- 19,1929, $enia1 Noz 108;339;and in SpainNovember 20; 1928.

Under-the name lof'block system. are F ig} 4 is a;diagrammaticyiew of the. track .1 grouped, in railway-technology, all the; automatic safetyd'evices in railway service. 1 i

The fundamental "characteristic of; the s'blo'ck forming the subject of. this invention is that fof producing the true blocking of the sectors. when. theyare occupied 'by a train, Lthus preventing anyother' train entering'the 'samesector, andit'diifers from other known lcs'afety devices'in that by its normal opera tion, which is;completely automatic and consequently" requires n6 human" intervention,

it corrects allerrors which may -be made in .setting *the' signals and points'and'inistakes in-re'ading the"'signals by the engineers or drivers of the train, this result being obtained without the necessity of electrifying-the 'line-in' any Way, "and merely" a't the "cost "of a small generatorinstalled uponthe-locomo- 2 tive'or'other unit'of the train.

' The -installationfoif this block systen'ii form- 'ing the subject ofthe present invention-requires the Wholeof thenetwork of the rail- "way tobe diyided up intoblocking-sectors or divisionsof Varying length, which" may cover the whole of the track betwee'ntwo stations and all and each 'of 'the tracks "and points andsidin-gs 'of the stations are'consideredas sectorsor'parts of a sector'in' an 83"absolute manner, since there should be no 'part or the track' 'wh'ich does not form part of a sector.

Each sectoris formedby a circultwith one-or more relays which; when lt' operates,

'connects' toaearthf one of the-"terminals f othencircuits' which terminate" at their other ends" in fixed'scontact pieces suspendedrfrom iposts near ithe track.

- The block systemwaccdrding touthe-inven tion is illustra-tedndiagrammatically in the iaccompanying.-drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticwiewi-of asection I or block of rtrack showing..-t-he invention ap- ..plied thereto.

i Fig. 2xis adiagrammatie presentation .of the .caizcarried. apparatus. A Fig. 3 is adiagrammatic.viewsimilarwto Fig. 1 showing-the manner of overlapping .the'electrical connections attwo contiguous sections orblocks "of the track.

apparatus .of.on'e block showing. also amore .detailediviewiof the train carriedapparatus.

-. Figs..5, 6. and 7:'are.views similarto Fig. 1

.JShoWing. .modifications "of the. invention.

Figs. 8. ;andv 9are diagrammaticyiewslof furthermodifications.o'f .the. track apparatus. .YReferring to the. drawings .in detaihlathe the track-in connection with which :the invention.v is :used. .A conductor 9 :is extended .throrighoutthe length ofthe block Landis suitably/insulated from ..the earth, and the iopposite end-sthereofare connected with the :-.termina1s ofthe coils5a of relays indicated at 5 Big. {The opposite terminals of thecoils v5a are grounded as-at 8to oneor bothofzthe t1'ack, rails:of.the block .or. directly. in the connection 8 incident to. successive actuations of the relays, in a mannenwlnch wlllsbe hereinafter more fully 1. described. 1 7 Branch conductors. are connected with the-main iconlductor. 9 r and with the elements 3 associated withtherelays5; The contact element 3:.at

each endiof the block .1 is located ina-position numeral 1 indicates a.section or.block".iof'

intermediate the elements 2iand 4. with reference --to..;the-l direction: of. movementof a train, whiledthe contact element 3" is :located at aidiflierent elevation. from the elements 2 and 4. 'soi that .th'eflfirst. and second. :contact elements are.separatelyengageable by two v I different train. carried contact shoes.

Q From .the'. foregoing it is evidentflthatthe coils 5a..are permanentlyv grounded, and it'is merely necessary to connect .-then1.--.with. a

tact" elements 3 in order to energize the coils. In Fig. 4 a form of relay 5 suitable for use grounded source of energy through .the conin connection with the apparatus isillustrated and in which the armature oi the coil 5 is connected with a-movable pawl'a coacting with aratchet wheel I) carriedby a drum 0.. The drum is formed ofinsulating material ahd is provided with a plurality ofequidistant inserts 1 of conducting material d. Pairso f brushes 2a. and 4a are arranged to.

bear on the surface'of the drum c, andin the position shown in Fig. 4 the brushes 4a contactwith a conducting part of the drum, and therefore the contact element 4 is electrically connected with the ground connection 8 through the conductors 4b and the brushes 4a. In this position the brushes 2a bear on the insulating material and connection of the contact element 2 with the ground is interrupted. In each actuation of the relay 5 the connection of the respective contact elements 2 and 4 with the ground 8 is made and broken.

The train carried part of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 2 and consists of contact shoes 12 and 13, theshoe 13 being engageable with the contact elements 3 and the shoe 12 being engageable with the elements 2 and 4. The shoes 12 and 13, as will be understood, are

suitably insulated from the locomotive or car to which they are applied, while the energy for the operation of the signal apparatus is supplied by a generator, battery or other source of electromotive force 11, one of the poles of which is grounded on the car as at 11a. Conductors 15 and 17 are connected with the opposite pole of the source 11, the conductor 15 being connected directly with the contact shoes 13 and the conductor 17-being connected with the contact shoes 12 and connected in series with a relay 18 whereby incident to closure of the circuit'of which the conductor 17 forms part the indieating and train control mechanism of the train carried apparatus is brought into operation. As suggested in Fig. 4, the armature controlled by the relay 18 may be connected with the mechanism controlling the brakes and steam supply valve as well as with suitable audible signals.

Under normal conditions, when the block 1 is unoccupied by a train, the two outer contact elements 2 are disconnected from the ground connections 8 by the relays 5 so that the first train entering the block will. freely pass the contact element 2, but upon engagement of its'shoe 13 with the contact ele- 'ment 3, the relay 5 is energized and actuating the drum 0 connection between the contact elements 4 and the ground 8 is inter rupted and at the same moment the outer con tact elements 2 are connected with the ground.

' The contact elements 2 remain connected with the ground throughout the passage of the train through the block, and on leaving the latter the shoe engaging the contact element 3 again actuates the relays 5 and restores the block apparatus to its former condition, i. e. reestablishes connection between the elements 4 and the ground 8 and disconnects the latter from the element 2. 7 However. should a second train enter the block 1 following the entry of the first train in either direction, the outer contact element 2 being directly connected with the ground would instantly close the circuit including the shoe 12, the conbetween the elements 2 and the ground connection 8. Thus, the entry of a second train into the block is prevented, and the first train on leaving the block brings the relays 5 to initial position incident to engagement of the train shoe 13 with the element 3. The overlappingof the blocks as shown in Fig. 3 extends the protection of the system over the entire length of the track, avoiding interruption as between the ends of spaced contiguous blocks.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the invention in which a conductor 10 is provided connecting the ground 8 at one relay with the ground connection of the relay at the opposite end of the same block while in Fig. 6 an arrangement is shown wherein a single relay is provided at any point in the length of the block and is underthe control of the sets of contact elements 2 and 3 at the terminals thereof.

, Fig. 7 discloses an arrangement which is adapted for use at a point where the track is subjected to heavy trafiic. a In this case the first train will act upon the terminal relays 5 and 105 at the ends of the block to prevent entry of a second train, but when the first train has passed over a section of the track it will open the point of entry, that is restore the relay 5 to normal condition by actuation of the relay at 95 in order to permit the next following train to enter, the latter restoring the relay 5 to its former position without actuation of the relay 105 and thereby preventing entry of a third train into the block until the passage of the first train pastthe relay 105.

Referring to the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 8, this arrangement is primarily intended to provide for the more uniform distribution of current to the relays of a signal block upon entry of a train at one end thereof. According to this arran gement secondary relays 6 and 106 are provided in association with the relays 5 and and 11-05 and; the ground connections 8. and 108 andaresistancesa 28 and ll-28harei shunted across a thepoints. mResistance elements '28 and-v128- having a value approximately-corresponding tothe resistance roflered byathe conductor 9 are selected, and upon .-,entryof .atrainiintottheiiblock 1; the coil -27: is energized simultaneously withtliecoi-l o-ii-the-rellay .5,- and the circuit controller 27a is1caused I 1 to, open the connection-betweenithe-relay coil 5'- and-the ground connection 8 -and=.- cause the current to pass through the resistance 28\ at -that-end lot: the block. I Thus; .-two--:paths of equal resistance are fofi'ered i-for thepassage .of the current one-through :t-hecoihof the re :lay 5- and'over the resistancewclement 28r-and the -other over :the conductor 9- and-through the coil :of the relay 105 and closed circuit wcontroller:127a.

The arrangements according to :t-he-iinventi'on may be applied in the sam eway: to an intermediate block as :to a'terminal block: or f station. and :they aresh-own by ay lof'example as appliedwto ai'termi'nalstationxiir Fig- ;ure 9. i 1

In this figure 91 ancl'i101 are sthe two'usual v wires ofithe block adjacent: theterminalcor Zstationwhich; asveXplained-ahove,- comprises the contact elements 112, 113, 114 and the :ground connection 108. lhese" contact Eclementsz are supplemented bycanother contact 123 which forms :the station entry contact.

In combination with sthese contacts is a resistance 36 which is equivalent tothe "re- 3 sistance control-led: at- 6 :and *106opreviously described, and a relay '35 wlrirchiisrthe':equiv- =al=ent :of the-relays 5 and -1O51withi the sole rdifler-encethat inadd-i-tion to theusuarl switch 1- 37= it comprises a supplementary: :eontactf38 w which is adapted to light thedampmt the. in-

? dicator-board 60. i

alnthe'station :sho wn, it-is assumed that the line-0f track 1 is'divided bymeans of 't-wo track switches :71; -72 lHl30l three 'hranch-v lines 31, .32,- 33;: and incombihationwithwthese brancholines the station entry'zcontacts are connected by'meansfofconductors 41 r42'zand 43 With three mechanisms. Eaclron'e'ofthese mechanisms comprises a relay 46,-r56and 66,

- respectively each of which is actuated hyicurrents sent from stheswitches 81;;582 coupled with the trackv switch mechanisms 71, @172. *Moreover; With :these relays rare: combined other relays 45', -:and similar toithe relays 35 and each-comprising azswitch lfln57- and "67 similar myths-switches ofvthe' relays 5,:of the individual blocks, and in addition switches 489585681101 :the lampsofi the ihdiqcatorboard 60. V

'- In order to operate all: these devices the N station comprises aha-ttery 'or-l'ocalrgenerator 34: one :of the poles iof'swhichr is'rgroundged K :throu gh the vconductor 1108. s The other: pole ot the-battery is connectedsbywthe conductor "-39 with thewswitoh 81 rand-acne otuthet'two contacts; of this switchfirl; iscoimctedzbymhe conductor l64z' :With 1 therswitichil 82;; whilesthe other connects with are :relays-AG. 2 The t-WO i contacts 10f :the rswitclr 182 rrarecconnected respectivelyr with theorelays 56i.and:66. sothat" .mp onmovingthe pointslby meansiofkthetrack iswitchesl7l',;:7 OIEdQIJillllfit .aiitrairrrwhi ch swenterszalongtlie 111116 1 may;beiedirected on to algiven branch dine offithestatioh; the comhiv nation of the switchesi'8z11andi82 is established fl :at. the 95311161111165 andi the relay 465 56 01 66 a is: actuated; which corresponds to" the branch of. track'selected; I

: :In Figuree9,'the: stationsha'szbeen shown in the assumedioaset when a trainin the block cin' adva-nceiofsthe station' enters the station 1-izalongithertrack 1 randi-nthe-track switches-are asetsoitthat this train,- lupon enteringiathe staction'; will pass on: ;to* the-:branch-v32. -When lathe p'ointsiare set in' this: position; the current rf romith'e' battery 34 passes through the switch .81Eand conductor 64 to the switch 82*andf-rom the "lower: contact of the- 'la-tter the current passesvto the coilof the rela-y56 andactuates i .thi's rel'ay-zthus" closing-thetwo contacts of the lattery asishown in the drawings. 'Ehe currentfthentravels along the wire 10 to *the conductor 108. The'indicatorboard GO-has a representation 7 A foif'th'e: tracks ofthe stationaon a r'educed scale, $05

-witlr; ai series of indioa-ting lamps thereon.

a The lamp i51 ihd icates when the track 7 1" is occupied-by a train which:occupiesthe block 63 indicaterespectively when each is illuini- M00 :nated'f that the 'correspondingtrack 31*;132 eor I 33 is occupied: and, independentlyof' these 21am ps; the I lamps 52;53 and 4=4ahd-54 indil cate the position 'of the tracksyvitclr points 71 mafia p Whe1r' the train which approaches the station has entered the adjacent-block andcaused :it--tovbe blocked it has =caused*the rel'ay 35 to 'operate thus putting it intopositi'onshown L ;in *'the drawings; and= when the contact 38 closes, 'the lamp -51 on the boaYrc l 60 "becomes illuminated, thus indicatinglthat there is a train on the sectionin front of thestation. Then; "bysetting the -p'oints' in -the' position 1- "shown in the drawings} the current from -the :i-battery 34 p'asses to the switch 82 along the -Wire 49 to the lamp t Pthe circuit is' closed through the ground conductors i :10 1 and? "-1 08. zGonsequently thelamp 44 h'as becomeilluminat'ed, indicating-that the line 32" is the one #Wlri ch is connected with the :line =1 -for receivringthertra-in. V I

When.the train reacheszthecdntact112, the i cnrrent'acannot pass because the conductor l1 7 isnotmonnected iw'it-hiearth; 'Upon then-passingthe contact? 1 23;.the current'fromthel'ocoimotivertravels 2 along i' the: conductor 42::and pa-sses' ithrough- :the coil of the :=relay: 55 thus tactuatingithis relay rand I changing :overthe positionoflthe switch 57*,ncontact 1-12= is coni nected with the ground, and by the closure of the contact 58 the lamp 62 is illuminated, thus indicating that this line is occupied by a train.

When the train then passes the contact 113 which forms the outlet of the block, it causes the resistance 36 and the relay 35 to operate and interrupt connection between the contact 112 and the ground. Upon then passing the contact 114 the current can still not pass because 114 is not grounded.

The train then enters the line ;32 andif a following train enters the station without the position of the switch points being changed when it passes the contact 112, the current from the locomotive passes through the conductor 41, the switch 57 the contact of the relay 56 as far as the ground wire 10 thus causing the alarm signals of the locomotive to operate. On the other hand if, before reaching this train the position of the points has been changed, the relay 56 will then change the position of interruption and in changing will close therelay 46or 66 corresponding to the track which is connected with the line 1-. Consequently, the train will be able to enter the station and travel along the other line while the line 32 remains occupied.

The invention also enables thestation chief to lock at will any of the lines 31, 32, 33 even though no train is on them. For this purpose three switches 76, 77, 78 are provided which are actuated by hand, while switches establish. a communication between the conductor 41 and-one of the contacts of the relays 46, 56, 66. For example, if the station chief closes the switch 77, the track 32 will be blocked when the points are set, to make it communicate with the track'l. In effect, when the train reaches the contact 112, the current from the locomotive will pass along the conductor 41 and switch 77 tothe relay 56 and, as the latter will hold the contacts closed by the operation of thepoint switches 81 and 82, the current will close, the circuit to earth thus causing the alarm devices on the locomotive to operate. 7

I claim Y 1. r A block system for railway networks and the like comprising, at each end of a sector of track. two contacts and a relay mounted on the side of the track, and a source of electrical energy, electrically operated warning devices and contact bars on the locomotive, the said contact bars and Warning device be ing permanently connected to the said source of energy and the said bars cooperating with the said contacts so as to close circuits containing said relays when the train enters said sector, and'op'en said circuits when the train leaves said sector, and so as to close circuits containing the alarm devices when the train approaches an occupied sector the relays at both ends of the sector having one of their terminals in communication with the corresponding contact and the other in communication with earth, the entering connectings of both relays being connected together by a metal conductor and the two earth contacts also connected together by another metal conductor whereby the good operationof the re- "lays is secured even though one of the earth contacts is defective.

2. A block system according to claim 1, the relays at both ends ofthe sector having one of their terminals in communication with the corresponding contact and the other in communication with earth, the entering connections of both relays being connected together by a metal conductor and the two earth contacts also connected together by another metal conductor whereby the good operation of the relays is secured even though one of the earth contacts is defective, a supplementary resistance being combined with each of the two relays at the ends of the sector, this resistance being connected automatically into the circuit of the relays whenthe contact directly connected to this relay operates, whereby the resistance of the conductor which unites the relays at both ends of the sector is compensated and the current which passes through both relays is caused to be of equal value.

3. A block system according to claim 1, the relays at both ends of the sector having one of their terminals in communication with the corresponding contact and the other in communication with earth, the entering connections of both relays being connected together by a metal conductor and'the two earth contacts also connected together by another metal conductor whereby the good operation of the relays is secured even though one of,

the earth contacts is defective, a supplementary resistance being combined with each of the two relays at the ends of the sector, this resistance being connected automatically into the circuit of the relays when the contact directly connected to this relay operates, whereby the resistance of the conductor which unites the relays at both ends of the sector is compensated and the current which passes through both relays is caused to be of equalv value, there being two pairs of contact bars on the locomotive, suitably situated sothat the bars of each pair touch one of the two contacts at each end of the sector, a bar of each pair being also situated symmetrically on each side of the locomotive, so that the latter can travel along the line in either direction.

4. A block system according to claim 1, the relays at both ends of the sector having one of their terminals in communication with the corresponding contact and the other in communication with earth, the entering connections of both relays being connected together by a metal conductor and the two earth contacts also connected automatically into the circuit of the relays when the contact directly connected to this relay operates, whereby the resistance of the conductor which unites the relays at both ends of the sector is compensated and the current which passes through both relays is caused to be of equal value, there being two pairs of contact bars on the locomotive, suitably situated so that the bars of each pair touch one of the two contacts at each end of the sector, a bar of each pair being also situated symmetrically on each side of the locomotive, so that the latter can travel along the line in either direction, one of the poles of the said source of energy being in communication with earth and the other in communication with the contact bars connected between the current generator and one of the pairs of contact bars, an electromagnet on the locomotive, which, when the bar touches a contact on the track connected to earth, actuates a switch on the locomotive which operates the alarm signals and if desired the brakes of the train.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ANTONIO FERRER DALMAU. 

